Axle connection member for construction toys

ABSTRACT

An axle connection member for use in construction toys to permit wheel attachment to the construction member. The member comprises a body having an axle attahed thereto, a pin for mounting the body to a component of the construction toy and a detachable flange for securing a wheel on the axle.

Ulllted States Patent 1 1 1 1 3,755,959 Boberg 1 1 Sept. 4, 1973 [54] AXLE CONNECTION MEMBER FOR 2,170,771 8/1939 Benjamin 46/26 CONSTRUCTION TOYS 3,032,919 5/1962 Amslcr 46/17 3,355,837 12/1967 Pcderson 46/26 [75] Inventor: Hermann Boberg, Horste/Lippe,

Germany FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [73] Assignee: Bielefelder Haushaltsgeraete GmbH 615,304 6/1935 Germany 46/6 & Co. KG., Bielefeld, Germany Filed: 26, 1971 Primary Examiner-Louis G. Mancene [2]] Appl. N03 192,104 Assistant Examiner-Robert F. Cutting [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Oct. 31, 1970 Germany P 70 40 265.2

[52] US. Cl. 46/23, 46/221 [51] Int. Cl A63h 33/04 [58] Field of Search 46/17, 23, 25, 26, 46/221 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,132,647 10/1938 Robins 46/26 Attorney-Jordan B. Bierman and Linda G. Bierman 4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures AXLE CONNECTION MEMBER FOR CONSTRUCTION TOYS This invention relates to construction toys and more particularly to members for use in attaching wheels to the components thereof.

In accordance with the present invention a novel connection member is provided for attaching a wheel to one or more components of a construction toy. The axle connection member consists of a body having an axle attached thereto, a pin for mounting a component of the toy on the body, and a flange to secure the wheel on the axle.

Construction toys are known which can be transformed into variable forms by simply plugging. Most of these construction toys have components which are rods or thin tubes. The components are provided with holes of round, oval or rectangular form and the connection of the various components is effected by pushing or pushing and turning one or several of the rods, tubes, etc., through these holes. The disadvantage of these construction toys is that constructions where wheels are used, such as cars, elevators, wind mills, etc., are not generally possible.

This disadvantage is eliminated by the present invention. The subject of the invention is an axle connection which can be used when playing with the abovedescribed construction toys. The present invention permits in connection with the above-described construc tion toys, like rods, tubes, etc., to build oneor two wheel axles. Another advantage of the axle connection according to the invention is that the wheel base can be increased or reduced at random by using shorter or longer construction parts, like tubes, rods, etc.

Referring now to the drawings, in which two preferred embodiments are shown and wherein like numerals refer to like parts:

FIG. 1 shows an exploded side view of the axle connection member with flange and pin;

FIG. 2 shows a top view of the member without the P FIG. 3 shows another exploded top view of the member of FIG. 2 but with the flange detached;

FIG. 4 shows a second preferred embodiment;

FIG. 5 shows the member of FIG. 4 in exploded view.

In FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, body la of the connecting member has an axle 16 attached thereto. The body has a slot 4 running for a predetermined depth into body la, adapted to accept a component of the construction toy (not shown) which is provided with a plurality of openings for use in fastening the component to the body. In addition, an opening 2 is provided in body 1a corresponding to the shape and size of the recessed portion of the components (not shown). Opening 2 is located on the top of the body and is shaped to accept a pin 5 which fits into opening 2 and the corresponding opening in the component.

Mounted on body la is a hollow axle lb. As shown in the drawings, axle 1b is coaxial with the body la. However, it is to be understood that axle lb may be placed at an angle to body la if it is so desired.

Axle lb is adapted to carry a wheel (not shown) having an opening coincident with the diameter of axle 1b. To secure the wheel in place on the axle, a flange 3 is provided which has an outer diameter larger than the opening in the wheel. The flange 3 has a reduced diameter portion adapted to snugly fit into the hollow portion of axle lb to retain the wheel on the axle during play.

In some instances, it may be desirable to mount one of the components of the toy on the axle lb, as when the axle is to be mounted at an angle to the toy. To achieve this, a plurality of projection 6 are provided in the body portion which together with the axle 1b form a connector having a configuration adapted to receive the toy components (not shown).

In FIGS. 4 and 5 an alternative: embodiment is described. This embodiment corresponds exactly to the one previously described but it has no slotted body. This axle serves for the production of a one-wheel construction, like a wheelbarrow, etc., for a multiwheel construction not requiring direct connection between the wheels.

It is to be understood that modifications may be made which are not specifically described but which will be obvious to those skilled in the art. It is intended to cover all such modifications which fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An axle connecting member for mounting a wheel to one or more components of construction toys comprising a hollow cylindrical body having one closed end and one opened end, and a plurality of longitudinal slots originating at said opened end adopted to ac cept a component of the construction toy and an opening on said body, said opening having substantially a key hole shape and a hollow cylindrical axle element opened at at least one end, said element having a smaller diameter than said body and being fixedly mounted on said closed end of said body such that the axis of said element is colinear with the axis of said body, said element having a smaller outer diameter than the opening in the hub of a wheel, and wheel retaining member having a cylindrical portion adopted to be removably mounted within the opened end of said element and a flanged portion mounted on said cylindrical portion such that a wheel may be secured on said axle element.

2. The connecting member according to claim 1 further comprising a plurality of projections located on said closed end of said body,said projections situated radially with respect to the axis of :said body such that said body is adopted to fit into the recess of a component of the construction toy.

3. The axle connecting member according to claim 1 further comprising a pin adopted to be frictionally secured within said opening.

4. An axle connecting member for mounting a wheel to one or more components of a construction toy compI'ISlI'Ig a hollow cylindrical axle element opened at at least one end,

a plurality of radially situated projections affixed to the surface of one end of said axle such that said axle is adopted to fit into the recess of a component of the construction toy, and

a wheel retaining member having a cylindrical portion adopted to be removably mounted withinthe opened end of said element and a flanged portion mounted on said cylindrical portion such that a wheel may be secured on said axle element.

l i t; t t 

1. An axle connecting member for mounting a wheel to one or more components of construction toys comprising a hollow cylindrical body having one closed end and one opened end, and a plurality of longitudinal slots originating at said opened end adopted to accept a component of the construction toy and an opening on said body, said opening having substantially a key hole shape and a hollow cylindrical axle element opened at at least one end, said element having a smaller diameter than said body and being fixedly mounted on said closed end of said body such that the axis of said element is colinear with the axis of said body, said element having a smaller outer diameter than the opening in the hub of a wheel, and a wheel retaining member having a cylindrical portion adopted to be removably mounted within the opened end of said element and a flanged portion mounted on said cylindrical portion such that a wheel may be secured on said axle element.
 2. The connecting member according to claim 1 further comprising a plurality of projections located on said closed end of said body,said projections situated radially with respect to the axis of said body such that said body is adopted to fit into the recess of a component of the construction toy.
 3. The axle connecting member according to claim 1 further comprising a pin adopted to be frictionally secured within said opening.
 4. An axle connecting member for mounting a wheel to one or more components of a construction toy comprising a hollow cylindrical axle element opened at at least one end, a plurality of radially situated projections affixed to the surface of one end of said axle such that said axle is adopted to fit into the recess of a component of the construction toy, and a wheel retaining member having a cylindrical portion adopted to be removably mounted within the opened end of said element and a flanged portion mounted on said cylindrical portion such that a wheel may be secured on said axle element. 